But you'd certainly never know it, when you walk into the nondescript classroom at Sussex Correctional Institute that quickly brightens on Fridays. The room is full of colorful works of art-paintings, sketches, and oil pastels, pristine enough to cover the walls of any museum.

Here, 21 prisoners have found a reawakening, a sense of purpose, and more importantly, a chance to express themselves through a therapeutic art program.

William Scott says he had to learn a new way since he got locked up. The old way of alcohol, drugs, and violence is how he ended up behind bars. Now, he finds his escape through art, something he wishes he would've figured out earlier.

"Since I was a kid, it's been my niche. Now, I'm just using it in a positive manner," says Scott.

He was working on a portrait of an older man, using neon pinks, purples and yellows; when I first saw it the man had a dark black hole for an eye--by the time I left, it was tiny specs of colors almost creating an optical illusion, but as for the emotion, there was no doubt.

"A little bit of pain, a little bit of joy. It really just speaks to what's in your heart. A lot of us, our crimes precede us. Through my art, I'm giving you another glimpse of me, besides what the paper says I am," says William Scott.

He calls the release "invaluable," as he works diligently on works of art for his love back home, Christa. He's crafting a shadowed yet somehow bright silhouette of a time long ago--Chase and Christa at their high school prom. He hopes she'll take it with her when she goes abroad soon.

"I like to lavish her with what I can, and unfortunately in here, I'm old afforded my talents and abilities," says Fehrenbach.

You can see 70 pieces of the prisoners' artwork at the Millsboro Art League, where it's been on display for a month. Nancy Thomas is the Coordinator of the Therapeutic Art Class.

"In Millsboro, they told me, that was the biggest turnout for any reception they've had ever, and they were so impressed with the artwork. They said it's as good as anything they have down there on a normal basis," says Thomas.

Graham, a longtime artist, does all kinds of commissioned art while in prison. He was working on a piece for a church. He also did a very intricate piece for the VETERANS...that's now selling prints like wildfire.

"56 hours drawing it. I combined every war from like WWII to present day all in one big picture," Graham says.

The paintings were a far cry from abstract or stick figure sketches. They speak louder, in fact, are shouting the emotions from these mens' hearts--in a way that will shock and surprise you, as a smile curls across your lips.

"It just speaks a lot toward what man is capable of inside of what society would say is such a dark place. I mean you see all the colors," says Scott.